Lyman Trumbull

Biography

Lyman Trumbull (1813–1896) built a legal career in Illinois before serving the state in the United States Senate, where he became one of the principal authors of the Thirteenth Amendment and a steadfast advocate for civil rights during Reconstruction. His insistence on equality under the law guided controversial debates, and he stood with those who sought to extend the promise of liberty to all Americans.

He is memorialized at Oak Woods Cemetery, where visitors reflect on the courage it took to champion a more just nation and the longstanding example he set for public service rooted in principle rather than politics.